Food allergies and tours

[PinkBudgie]

I have a fish allergy and I want to take the Keys to the Kingdom Tour. Wouldn't you know it, the included lunch is at Columbia Harbour House- the one place that I've heard is very "unfriendly" for those with fish allergies. I've read reports from others that they weren't allowed to stay in the restaurant and eat anything else due to the way the fish is cooked. What do they do for someone on the tour then? Has anyone with a fish allergy done this tour? I assume the lunch is at the end. Would they give an alternative meal somewhere else, or do you just miss out on the meal and too bad? I'm getting close to my 180 days and just discovered this.

 

[mistysue]

Since nobody is answering I would contact Disney. Try calling about the tour and ask who to talk to... I wouldn't just trust whoever the general customer service person is but they may have somebody who works with this specific tour for you to ask. You could also contact special diets and ask them who to ask. The only tour my family has done was sending the kids on the children's pirate cruise and we had to pack DS his own snack because they only had water to offer him. Before the cruise nobody would answer whether they would have anything, as it included a snack for all the other kids.

My son has a lot of allergies and at the end of the summer Disney started using these laminated one page menus at some of the CS locations. The CHH one had a printed warning that they do not recommend you eat there with a fish or shellfish allergy. Before that menu was there, DS had never had a problem eating there. The day they got that menu the manager refused to serve him. He had eaten there the day before and three days before, but that day he suddenly was at risk for airborn allergens... but they weren't concerned that he was in the place, just if he had the food... Others have still gone in with no problem. I have been told that Disney places don't turn you away, but they have turned us away. So to a certain extent no matter how much planning you do, you may just get lucky or unlucky with who is on staff that day. I would still call ahead and know what they intend to have happen.

 

[PinkBudgie]

Ok, thank you. I had thought about calling Disney but didn't want to get the usual "every CM has a different answer" routine.

Either I've seen you talk about CHH turning you away before, or I read that with someone else- or both. I just remember it wasn't allergy friendly. I don't know why they had to pick that place out of all the places in MK. I will take your suggestion and try contacting the tours and special diets. Thanks!

 

[DCDisney]

I don't have a seafood allergy but I have a number of food allergies. The people who staff the tours seem to have the guest services training where they are willing to do whatever it takes to make something work. I frequently eat at CHH so I was able to explain what I needed in a way I knew CHH would understand. They were very willing though to get whatever I needed. They have extra staff meet you at CHH so the guide gets a break while you eat. SO there are staff who can bring something else. The meal was about 3/4 of the way through the tour. There were 2 groups though and the other group ate first so maybe their meal was halfway through. But in any case I'd have some set ideas of foods they can easily get you that work from a close location. They were very willing to help. They had someone separate added to the tour when someone showed up 15 mins late in a wheelchair to help be sure that person could make it through all the places we went. I would certainly try and call guest services ahead but based on my experience I think they will gladly get you something from somewhere safe or at the very least a voucher for a meal later.

 

[PinkBudgie]

Thanks for the info. I really have no idea how the tour works so that helps. I would think they could do something. I can't be the only one with a fish allergy who has taken the tour.

 

[SDSorority]

Knowing how good WDW is with allergies, and since it's a WDW owned restaurant, there should be something there that you can have without any fuss. I'm speaking as someone who has a gluten allergy, but I have some ideas. I know they have a vegetarian chili, the lighthouse sandwich (a hummus sandwich that has gotten really good reviews, also vegetarian), and the broccoli peppercorn salad (maybe sub the dressing for oil and vinegar if it has anchovies in it... not sure if it's a cesar dressing or ranch). They're good with gluten allergies and have gluten free chicken tenders and fries, which makes me assume that they have dedicated fryers in the kitchen- you'll of course want to check with the manager on duty about that, though. They also have Amy's Rice Mac and Cheese, which is gluten free but also fish/shellfish free (contains milk).

 

[Wishes Count]

Did you tell the agent when you booked the tour. Every tour that serves food has a place for the agent to notate a food allergy. If you did not start by calling 407 WDW TOUR and have them modify your reservation. That way the tour guide is aware before you get there and the restaurant can be prepared. Instead of just springing it on them at the start of the tour.

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[PinkBudgie]

Did you tell the agent when you booked the tour. Every tour that serves food has a place for the agent to notate a food allergy. If you did not start by calling 407 WDW TOUR and have them modify your reservation. That way the tour guide is aware before you get there and the restaurant can be prepared. Instead of just springing it on them at the start of the tour.

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

I haven't booked it yet. I'm almost to 180 days out so I've been trying to finalize some things. I was thinking you just book it on the My Disney Experience but I don't know. I've never been to WDW before. Either way, good point. If there is no place to note it down online, then I will call.

 

[KathyRN137]

I do know that CHH serves AllergyFree brand chicken nuggets -- hope that helps!

Kathy

 

[PinkBudgie]

I do know that CHH serves AllergyFree brand chicken nuggets -- hope that helps!

Kathy

Thanks, that would work for me if they allow me to eat in the restaurant.

 

[DCDisney]

In the past the fryer oil had cross contam issues but they could bake the allergy safe tenders and fries. The bigger issue right now is reports that all people with fish allergies are being told to eat elsewhere.

 

[Mousemom234]

I assume the lunch is at the end.

It's been several years since we took that tour, but I believe the lunch break was about 2/3 of the way through the tour, not at the end.

 

[PinkBudgie]

In the past the fryer oil had cross contam issues but they could bake the allergy safe tenders and fries. The bigger issue right now is reports that all people with fish allergies are being told to eat elsewhere.

That's what I've heard. I just wonder why would they pick the one restaurant that effectively bans a segment of the population (although a small segment, I'm sure) to be part of a tour? Will I have to wait outside while everyone else eats? Where will I go? How will I know when the tour starts again if I'm off eating somewhere else? Will I have to buy my own lunch? If they don't feel confident the restaurant can be safe for fish allergies, then fine, I don't mind not eating there. My safety is more important. But why make it part of a popular tour?
Hopefully this weekend I'll have time to attempt some phone calls and see if I can find anything out.

 

[spacecanada]

You need to call the tours desk and find out. You can call and ask questions before booking the tour, even before your 180 day mark. There is no sense making up scenarios that may not be true. They may switch restaurants for your tour, make box lunches for people to eat at the picnic area, or let you eat elsewhere. You won't know until you call and talk to an experienced tour agent. I know they will accommodate for food allergies (and they recently updated their tour food allergy accommodation procedures) but what exactly they do varies for each tour. Let us know what you find out.

 

[PinkBudgie]

I actually have a travel agent and she is attempting to find out what they can do. She told me she called the tour number and was referred to another number but hasn't reached anyone there yet. She also gave me the number so I could try too. So, we'll see.

 

[PinkBudgie]

Update:

I finally made contact with the tour office. First I called, got voice mail which suggested emailing. So I emailed and they suggested this question would be better asked over the phone. So I called again and left a message.

Of course, the 3 hour time difference made contact difficult because they open at 7am ( while I'm still in bed at 4am here) and close at 3 so they would be closed by the time I get home from work.

Anyway, someone left a message and said it would be better to use email instead of playing phone tag! So I emailed again and finally got the answer back that there shouldn't be any issue eating there and the day of the tour they can let the restaurant know of my allergy.

So, I'll just leave it and wait and see. They seem to think I can eat in there as long as I don't order fish. I guess it will be their problem to find me something to eat if the restaurant has problems with it that day. After I actually go on the tour in June, I'll come back and update with the final answer just in case it helps someone else later.